Wang Xiaoyang, Deputy General Manager of CSR Puzhen and General Manager of Puzhen (left) and Germar Wacker, President Light Rail Vehicles, Bombardier Transportation.

Rail technology leader Bombardier Transportation announced that it has signed a Technology Licence Agreement with CSR Puzhen, a subsidiary of the largest player in the railway manufacturing sector in China – China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corporation Ltd (CSR).

Under the agreement, Bombardier provides CSR Puzhen with a 10-year licence to manufacture and sell 100 per cent low-floor trams with Bombardier technology in China (including Hong Kong and Macao).

The licensed product is a variant of the BOMBARDIER FLEXITY 2 platform of vehicles already operating in Blackpool, UK and being delivered to the Gold Coast, Australia. The agreement covers the preparation and delivery of documentation of the licensed product as well as training and assistance for CSR Puzhen’s employees to understand the documentation and enable them to successfully manufacture and sell the licensed product. Bombardier will not actively build vehicles in China, but comprehensively support its new Chinese partner. The vehicles will be equipped with the innovative BOMBARDIER FLEXX Urban 3000 bogies and the BOMBARDIER MITRAC 500 propulsion and control system.

After recent significant achievements in China’s high speed train, locomotive, signaling and metro segments, Bombardier Transportation is now entering the tram market in China through a co-operation with CSR Puzhen. This move supports Bombardier’s strategic drive to grow strong “local roots” in key markets.

“After many years of intense development of metros, Chinese cities are embracing low-floor trams to complement their urban transit systems. Bombardier is now bringing its state-of-the-art technology to this new and growing market,” said Jianwei Zhang, President of Bombardier China.

Germar Wacker, President Light Rail Vehicles, Bombardier Transportation, added: “Our FLEXITY trams combine market-leading experience, proven parts and visionary engineering. We are proud to take this vehicle family to China. This will ensure that passengers in China can enjoy the highest standards in comfort and safety. By providing efficient and ecological transport solutions, Bombardier’s FLEXITY trams shape the identities of modern cities across the globe.”

As the market leader in the tram and light rail vehicle (LRV) segment, Bombardier and its FLEXITY family offer modern mobility solutions to meet the requirements of any city. The most comprehensive portfolio of the industry ranges from 100 per cent low-floor trams and 70 per cent low-floor trams and LRVs to proven dual system solutions.

More than 1,700 FLEXITY trams are already in successful revenue service, and Bombardier has sold more than 1,000 FLEXITY 100 per cent low-floor trams to date. A total of 3,500 trams and light rail vehicles from Bombardier are on order or operating in nearly 100 cities in more than 20 countries around the globe.

Visitors to InnoTrans 2012 can experience the FLEXITY 2 tram, which Bombardier plans to display at the trade show in September in Berlin, Germany.